10.5m old not crawling- referred to physio

[NewMomma21]

Hi all,

I have a 10.5 old who just had a scheduled developmental check. As a baby he was a refluxy, discontented little boy. He was medicated for silent reflux and has only stopped all day crying in the last 4-6 weeks. He has never tolerated any kind of tummy time. He can stand holding on to a surface with a few wobbly solo stands, made some decent attempts at cruising and walks proficiently with held hands. He can rotate around while sitting but has been absolutely steadfast in his refusal to crawl.

He has been referred to a physiotherapist because he is not crawling. The nurse said they want all babies crawling for coordination.

Has anyone experienced anything similar? Or had a baby that skipped crawling altogether?

Many thanks for any insights

My DD skipped crawling, walked early (although quite badly at first) but was a bit poorly coordinated until about aged 8/9 - it's not like you can force them down when they want to walk not crawl so I think the coordination is a chicken-egg situation. A lot of bum shufflers don't crawl and also walk late as they have a great way to get around. He's still little and is making progress, this is prime worrying age, but (honestly) as soon as they are about 2 you forget who did what then and they are all the same.

That seems early to be worried - DD crawled at 12 months, and walked at 17. She was checked for late walking, but we were told she'd only be referred to a physio if she wasn't weight bearing (standing while holding onto something) at 18 months, and yours is already doing that.

It's fair to say that gross motor skills aren't DD's strength, but she's well within normal, so I don't think you need to be worried just yet.

My eldest never crawled, and was walking independently by 12 months. He did learn to crawl at about 2, but never did it very much. He's always been very physical and has good coordination.
The health visitor wasn't at all concerned and said it's pretty common not to crawl. It sounds like your LO may have other things going on too though, so probably worth seeing the physio even just for reassurance.

One of my never crawled, just went straight to walking about 12 months old.
one of my others was around 14 months before started to crawl. Each baby is different, but for me, I wouldn't be too worried at 10 months old.

Mine started to crawl at 10 months but then walked at 12. They are all different and the parameters of 'normal' are huge at that age. It seems very early for intervention though - is there anything else he's not doing?

10 months seems early & I never heard that from a midwife. My DS1 didn't get the hang of crawling as a baby. He'd waggle his bottom up and down expecting to kind of 'go'.

At 12 months I big time helped him to walk which I kind of regret intervening rather than letting him to it. Weirdly he also spontaneously crawled when we were learning this.

His balance was not good for years - had to be behind him for a loooong time and even now at 5 he falls over most days, but he's completely normal 5 year old, plays football, climbs around the play park.

A physio for a 10 month old not crawling seems extreme.

Are you in the UK? A physio referral at 10 months seems very unusual, especially as he is taking steps towards walking. Mine was basically a potato at our 11 month check (started bum shuffling at 13 months) and we were only promised a follow up phone call (and then told to wait until 18 months).

I wanted a physio referral for my daughter but we we unable to get one until 18 months and we really had to push for it (at this stage she was not crawling, couldn’t pull up or cruise, barely willing to weight bear).

That seems way over the top. Mine only started bottom shuffling about at 11 months. No one was worried.

My dd didn't crawl (bum shuffler). Was then really hesitant at walking (and would not use a walker / toy pram). Would walk with both hands being held from about a year and took a long time to progress to one hand. Then even longer to walk independently (at 3!).
I think she still looks wobbly going down unfamiliar stairs / in weird terrain.
But I think I've got dyspraxia (totally uncoordinated when I haven't had a chance to think it through in my head), so think she' just takes after me.

Really? Dd1 didn't crawl until 11 months and no one even batted an eye lid. I thought they only checked they were talking by 18 months and even if they weren't they're not bothered they just check their hips 🤷🏻‍♀️ honestly so many babies are not crawling by 11 months op do not worry

Walking not talking **

DC1 was similar - lots of discomfort as a baby, hated tummy time, hated being put down at all! Early with communication skills but late with gross motor. First crawled at 11 months. ‘Late’ walker too at 17 months (health visitor was banging on about an assessment if not walking independently by 18 months). But by 2 years old, meeting or exceeding all gross motor skills - so she did catch up.
If your gut instinct is that your DS is doing fine, then I really wouldn’t worry at this stage. Enjoy your wonderful child x

Neither of my DC crawled.

That's far too young to be getting too concerned.

Two of my three DDs never crawled at all. They bum-shuffled from around the age yours is. One walked at 23 months and the other at 21 months. No problems at all. Both could stand indefinitely for weeks/months before finally walking, but when they wanted to get somewhere went down onto their bums to do it.

If any health care professional had wanted to wait for mine to crawl they would still be waiting now, more than 20 years on.

There is a very wide range of normal. They shouldn't be making such a drama out of not crawling at 10 months unless other medical issues are evident. Very many babies are not crawling by then. Some never do at all and still walk when they are ready.

Everything you have described is well within normal for motor skills development . I agree the referral seems very over the top. Some children never crawl, that’s a fact I’d expect the nurse to know.

My adult son has CP, is a wheelchair user. Nothing your DC is doing/not doing is remotely like what he/his peers with CP we’re doing/not doing at that stage.

Hi there. Just wondering what you mean by it sounds like my LO has other things going on? Thanks

Thanks for all the helpful replies. I’m not in the least bit worried about DS. He has met every other milestone and having been a very challenging baby is now beginning to come out the other side (I hope!). I felt it was a bit over the top to make a referral for a child that is weight bearing and is making moves towards walking. I am in Ireland where our check takes place between 9&11m.

That does seem a bit OTT, although I guess no harm in getting them seen. My youngest didn't crawl until well after her birthday and walked at about 18 months, but as you say was weight bearing at the sofa etc and progressing so we had no concerns. She wasn't seen much as it was during covid so perhaps she would have been referred somewhere in normal times, but as I say we were never worried. She's 4 now and has no issues.

Thank you for this. I felt better instantly reading it. I have been worried about DS in the past. He was the most cantankerous baby I’ve ever encountered and many people here instantly told me it must be ASD. He is currently sitting in front of me playing happily and appropriately and all the worries I had are starting to fade at last.

Nothing at all! He stands and walks with hands, has started to cruise. Has met all other milestones, reciprocal play, clapping, passing toys between hands, gives over toys when asked, babbles all the time. In the nurses words he’s doing great! Just felt in the bigger picture he’s doing really well and just lacks this one skill which is explained by his reflux I think

That on its own seems quite zealous, but maybe something else is feeding onto this concern.Anyway if there's anything amiss ( unlikely) ot is better to start treating asap.

Mine never crawled and sounds similar to your DS. Wanted to be on her feet all the time and no interest in rolling around on the floor. Was standing holding on to the furniture and cruising and then walked independently at 12 months. I think if they want to be up on their feet they don't get the point of crawling.

I agree it seems early for them to worry, my little boy also hated tummy time, he crawled at 10 months and walked at 15. I was worried as a FTM but the HV wasn't concerned at all x

Or had a baby that skipped crawling altogether?

Apparently me - though DMum did use a walker. I was diagnosed with dyspraxia along side dyslexia at 20 at Uni. I was a clumsy child - but was less noticeable by teens.

Had a friend whose baby girl bottom crawled and walked very late - they had checks nearer 16-18 months to rule out problems - baby was fine it gave her parents peace of mind- she did need some encouragement to stand/pull up and walk nearer 2 but it was the only delay.

DS crawled early walked early - still have had serious concerns at times with his coordination - no diagnosis as not helpful services here but have thought he might be. So think lack of crawling is a possible indicator of dyspraxia and not a certainty - with DS we've just tried to build his co-ordination skills in childhood with play and following his interests.

A physio friend told me crawling is an important developmental step and they ideally want everyone to crawl. However I skipped crawling altogether and didn't walk until 19 months. My physical skills were perfectly normal from then on! Get it checked out, but it's probably not a big issue.